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55 years ago this morning [Nov 14, 1965], Lt Col Hal Moore’s 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry conducted an air assault into LZ X-Ray in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. So began the first battle of the Vietnam War between the @USArmy and large-scale North Vietnamese units.
![1 of 6: 55 years ago this morning [Nov 14, 1965], Lt Col Hal Moore’s 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry conducted an air assault into LZ X-Ray in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. So began the first battle of the Vietnam War between the @USArmy and large-scale North Vietnamese units.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmyNpzPXMAA9oJ9.jpg "1 of 6: 55 years ago this morning [Nov 14, 1965], Lt Col Hal Moore’s 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry conducted an air assault into LZ X-Ray in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. So began the first battle of the Vietnam War between the @USArmy and large-scale North Vietnamese units.")
55 years ago this morning [Nov 14, 1965], Lt Col Hal Moore’s 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry conducted an air assault into LZ X-Ray in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. So began the first battle of the Vietnam War between the @USArmy and large-scale North Vietnamese units.
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Even for this war, this first major battle was stunning in its brutality. During 4 days of fighting, each side inflicted heavy casualties on the other. Both sides claimed victory; N. Vietnamese peasants withstood a US high-tech firestorm, convincing them they could win.
Even for this war, this first major battle was stunning in its brutality. During 4 days of fighting, each side inflicted heavy casualties on the other. Both sides claimed victory; N. Vietnamese peasants withstood a US high-tech firestorm, convincing them they could win.
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After Ia Drang it was clear to both sides that the war had changed. For the Americans, the enormous number of casualties inflicted on the enemy validated the concept of airmobile warfare (remember, the @1stCavalryDiv had just converted to an airmobile formation).
After Ia Drang it was clear to both sides that the war had changed. For the Americans, the enormous number of casualties inflicted on the enemy validated the concept of airmobile warfare (remember, the @1stCavalryDiv had just converted to an airmobile formation).
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The fighting was captured for the American public by print reporter Joe Galloway who also rescued wounded Soldiers during the fighting. 34 years later he became the only civilian awarded a medal for valor (Bronze Star Medal with V device) for actions during Vietnam War.
The fighting was captured for the American public by print reporter Joe Galloway who also rescued wounded Soldiers during the fighting. 34 years later he became the only civilian awarded a medal for valor (Bronze Star Medal with V device) for actions during Vietnam War.
5 of 6: Another outgrowth of Ia Drang: a casualty-notification process. Prior to this fight, notifications were handed to taxi cab drivers for delivery to next of kin. After a stunning number of such deliveries on @FortBenning, the Army established casualty notification teams.
FINAL: 55 years after that air assault, Ia Drang remains an iconic moment in Vietnam. Hal Moore’s 1992 book “We Were Soldiers Once…And Young” & the 2002 Mel Gibson film based on that book detail the brutality of the battle and the incredible humanity of those who waged it.
